Well packer



Sept. 30, 1958 0.o. DALE ETAL WELL PACKER Sept- 30 1953 o. o. DALE ETAL2,854,080

WELL PACKER Filed Dec. 23. 1954 3 sheets-sheet 2 Sept. 30, 1958 o. O DLEETAL WELL PACKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 23, 1954 United StatesPatent "ice WELL PACKER VOrland O. Dale, Long Beach, and Vaughan D.Hanes,

Montebello Pai-k, Calif., assigino'r's to BJ Service Inc., Long Beach,Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application December 23, 1954, SerialNo. 477,214 13 Claims. (Cr. 16s-140) The invention relates to packerslfor use in cementing, acidizing, fracturingl or similar oil welloperations.

One of the primary problems in the design and operation of Well packersis the retention ofthe packer at the desired point in the casing,tubing, or bore Which is to be packed off. In the use of such devices,particularly in cementing and fracturing operations, the pressure belowthe packer exceeds the pressure above it and hence `there is a tendencyforv the packerA to bey forced upward under the' dilerential pressure.Pressure slips or other wall engagingY means have been employed in orderto preclude `any 'such inadvertent movement. Also the weight of thedrill vstring to which the packer is secured has beenused to offset'the-tendency of the packer to float upward. However both of theseexpedientsA have beenfoimd to` be inadequate. Mechanical failures occurin thel slipl expanding mechanism, and frequently the weightl of thedrill string is' insuicient to compensate for `theex'ce'ssiv'e'pressure' belowv` the packer.

I'tis1ther-efore among the primary objects of the plresent inventionto'pov'ide' an improvedmeans for securely anchoring a well packer atadesiredI location within' a 'wellbore casingor tubing.

More'sp'eciiically,` it is an object of thepresent'inve'ntionftolprovide a-packer wherein means are providedfordirectly applying the'V pressure yseeking to :move thepaeke'r upward tothe slip hold down mechanism` so that' the two eicts t'eniftob'a'lanceieach otherl ont.

Itis'af further object of the invention to provide a packer'vwherenranchor slips* are' set mechanically and maintained in su'ch: positionbyl pressuremeans3 responsivetcrthee'samepressurefthat tends to forcethepacker upwardly.

lowing-ispeciication` taken'in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings i in which Fig'u'rel lv is a'ilongitudinal section ofoneembodiment of thevpresent'inventi'on showing-thepa'rt's in'retractedposition'as in=runningfinthetool.

Figure `2 is a'similar sectional View of thedeviceof Figure-lshowing=the`partsin position withv theslipsset, and prior to expansionyof the packer rings.

Figure 3 isla'vi'ew'illus'u'ating Atherelationship oftp'arts when cementor fracturing fluid` is'being'forced into `thejivell, theslipseandwpackerrings: being -in set position.

Figure4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showingthe lirst-stepdn-releasingthe packer'for withdrawal from the Well.

2,854,080 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure lof a modiiie'd form of the present invention with the parts in retractedposition; and

Figure 6 is a View of the modiiied construction of Figure 5 with theparts in set position similar to the relationship of parts shown inFigure 3.

In general terms, the invention may be defined as comprising a hollowinner mandrel through which fluid may pass, an outer mandrel envelopingthe inner mandrel, radially movable slips carried by the outer mandrel,and packer rings which are pressure expanded to' seal against the wallsof the casing within which the tool is suspended. The slips are actuatedoutwardly by the camming action of a hollow coneV mounted on the' innermandrel. kvI n both forms of the invention the pressure which'expandsthe packer rings is' also eiective toactupon maintain the set of theslips. This elect counterbalances pressure tending to oat the packerloose from the casing walls. In the forms of the invention shown inFigures l-4 the set maintaining pressure is applied by means of a pistonsleeve bearing on the cone. In the second' form of the invention theinner mandrel has an integral sub which bears on the cone at one end,and is acted upon at its other end by the pressure iiuidt Referring tothe drawings, the first form of .the packer illustrated in Figures 1` to4, comprisesa tubular inner mandrel adapted to be secured to adrilljstring'e'ither directly or through the mediumjof aby-ipass'yalve', not shown. For the purpose of this illustration such'eonne'ctingequipment is indicated by the numerall' in Figure 1. Theinner mandrel: comprises anv upper section 1 1 having an internallythreaded collar 12 for zqltta'chmertV -to the member 10. It has a sideport `13`intermediateitsends and spaced downwardly from thev collar 12.The. lower extremity of the yupper section 11 of the mandrely isfexternally threaded as at 14 to receive thereover the internallythreaded collar 15 of a central `internal mandrel body section 16. Atthe junction of the collar 15"w i th the main body of the section 16 theexternal f aceV ofthe lower end of the collar is formed with a p air'pfspaced frusto conical seats 15A and 15B between whichvis a packing ring15C. The central body section lprovides a"y relatively long smoothcylindrical surface terminating at itsV lower end in external threads17. The threads v17 receive an internally threaded collar 18 of theupperend of a bottom mandrelsection 19. The Vlower end of the lowersection 19` is externally threaded as'a't 20aud receives thereover athreaded end member 21 from which extends a pin detent 22 forming partof afrele'asable J slot connection hereinafter discussed.

The outer mandrel is'rnounted on theV yinnermandrel,for limited relativelongitudinal movement with respect thereto, whenreleased for suchmovement.l comprises an upper cylindrical section 254 having a head 25Atofwhich isithreaded a gland nut 26 which secures packing 2 7 betweenitself and an internally extending flange 28 `formed on the: head 25A.The packing27, together with the nut 26and ange 28, is slideablymovabley upon the section 11v of the inner mandrel between the'lowerface of the collar 12 and the upper face of the'collar 15, as will belnoted from a comparison between Figures l and 2, Upon downward movementof the inner mandrel from the position of Figure 1 to that of Figure 2,the nut 26, packing 27, and flange 2S will be abovethe port 13 Inthis'latter position pressure withinthe mandrel maymbe transmittedthrough the port 13 to chamber 30 formed within theupper portion ofthesection 25', as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The lower end31 of the upper section 25 of the outer mandrel threadedly engages theupper end of an upper intermediate outer mandrel section 32, and Vis'uidsealed thereto by means of packing ring 32A. The lower end of theintermediate mandrel section 32 is externally threaded as at 33 toreceive the upper end 34 of a lower intermediate sleeve section 35.Within the upper end 34 of the intermediate section 35, the end of theupper section 32 extends in the form of an inwardly spaced flange 33A,forming a channel 33B. Mounted for sliding movement in sealingengagement with the inner wall 36 of the vsection 32, is the head 39 ofa piston sleeve 42. The head 39 carries packing ring 39AV to effect theseal between the piston t sleeve 42 and the wall 36. Directlyy below thehead 39 the sleeve 42 is formed with an internal rusto conical surface41 adapted to sealingly engage the seat 15A. A spaced companion trustoconical surface 42A cooperates with seat 15B to open or close ol port43.

Conical slip actuator h is slideably mounted on the outer lface of theinner mandrel member 16. The outer conical face of the member 50 engagesconforming surfaces 51 on the inner face of radially movable slips S2.The slips move through windows 53 in the portion 35 of the outermandrel.` The slips 52 are provided with removable bits 54 havingupwardly facing wickers adapted to engage the well casing to increasethe frictional grip of the slips thereagainst. Channel 55 between thelower end of the sleeve 42 and the lower end of the outer mandrel 32provides a flow passage, when the port 43 is open, for the discharge ofdrill string fluid from the pressure chamber 30 outwardly through theslip windows S3 and the spring windows 53A.

Resilient packer rings 60 are formed of rubber, neoprene or likematerial and are seated upon the outer surrface 61 of the lowermostouter mandrel section 62. Slideably mounted on the surface 61 there ispro-vided a packer follower member 63 of generally cylindrical formwhich has mounted thereon a cup type sealing member 64 secured by meansof a ring 65 and an extension skirt 66. The lower inner mandrel section19 slides within the lower outer mandrel section 61. Sealingrelationship is maintained between these two sections because of packing66A, held in place by gland nut 66B.

A pin 67 projects inwardly from the member 63 to be received in a guideslot 68 so as to preclude inadvertent relative rotation of parts. Theinner face of the extension 66 is also provided with a J slot. The Jslot has a peripheral portion 70 and a longitudinal extension 71communicating therewith to receive the detent 22.

In operation of this form of the apparatus the tool is in its contractedposition as shown in Figure l. The detent 22 is in the upper circularportion 70 of the` J slot. In this position the packer rings 60 arereleased and free of Contact with the well casing. The slips 52 aresimilarly retracted and no radial pressure is applied thereto by thecone 50. Sealing member 64 is in contact with the casing so that skirt66 is kept stationary. lt will also be noted that in this position theport i3 is closed by the packing 27 and uid pressure is not admitted tothe chamber 30 above the sleeve 42. With the parts thus arranged, as inFigure 1, the tool is lowered into the casing to the desired positionwhere it is to be set :for the pumping therethrough of acids, fracturingfluid, or cement.

When at the desired position, the drill string 1t] is rotated to movethe detent 22 into alignment with the longitudinal portion 71 of the Jslot and thereafter the string is further lowered to move the innermandrel downwardly with respect to the outer mandrel, and the partssupported thereby. In this connection it will be noted that stabilizersprings 75 are provided intermediate the slips 52 so as to maintain anoperating friction between the outer mandrel and the casing so that uponreleaseof the J slot the outer mandrel remains stationary while theinner mandrel moves downwardly.

The arrangement of parts after downward movement of the inner mandrelwhereby the slips are set is depicted in Figure 2. As the inner mandrelmoves down, the shoulders 15A and 15B engage the shoulders 41 and 42A ofthe sleeve 42 so that continued downward movement 4 of the inner mandrelmoves the sleeve downward therewith. Since the lower end of the sleeve42 rests upon the upper face of cone 50 the cone will be moveddownwardly and will cam slips 52 outwardly into engagement with thecasing walls.

It is to be noted that although downward movement brings the port 13into communication with the space 30 above the piston head of the sleeve42, it is not contemplated that fluid pressures are at this timeeffective in the setting of the slips. In the present invention theslips are set by purely mechanical action as by lowering the innermandrel with respect to the outer mandrel.

With the slips thus set and the parts in the relationship shown inFigure 2, cement, fracturing fluid, acid or like material may beadmitted down through the hollow central mandrel as indicated by thearrows of Figure 3. Since the uid ows out through the bottom of thepacker, the first action of the upward pressure from below the packer isto force the cup 64 upwardly. This slides the member 63 upwardly on thesurface 61 to compress the packer rings and radially expand them forsealing contact against the casing. By this arrangement it will be seenthat the packer rings constitute a supplement to the cup 64 in sealingthe packer against upward passage of iiuid. As such pressure, appliedthrough the hollow central mandrel increases, there is of courseincreased upward pressure on the inverted cup 64 which is transmittedthrough the packer rings as a general upward pressure seeking to liftthe outer mandrel. Such lifting is resisted by the engagement of theslips with the inner face of the casing. In addition, as explainedbelow, downward pressure is present to balance out the upward pressure.

Pressure is admitted through the port 13 to the charnber 30 above thepiston head of the sleeve 42. Port 43 of the sleeve is at this timeclosed by surface 15B of the inner mandrel and thus pressure does notescape through the port but acts as a downward force on the pistonsleeve 42. This in turn further presses cone 50 downward, and thus theslips 52 are wedged outwardly to grip the casing wall more tightly. Itis seen that although pressure is not required to set the slips,pressure is effective to maintain an outward force on the slips whichbalances the force applied below the packer tending to raise the outermandrel. I

It should also be noted that the weight of the drill string is at alltimes eective to maintain a downward force on the inner mandrel. Thiskeeps sleeve member 42 positioned against shoulders 15A and 15B, andport 43 is closed oft. Without this force, pressure would bleed offthrough port 43, and the radial thrust on the slips 52 would bediminished.

At the conclusion of the pressure cycle the packer may be relaxed byupward movement of the drill string to the position shown in Figure 4,at which time the port 43 is opened and fluid entrapped in the chamber30 is released.

Since the member 42`is then free of any downward pressure, by either uidforce or engagement by the shoulders of the inner mandrel, the cone isfree to slide upwardly on the inner mandrel to permit inward radialmovement of the slips 52. Pressure within the bore is then diminished toallow the packer rings to retract to the relaxed position of Figures 1and 2. By continued upward movement of the drill string the packer maythen be easily removed. As the inner mandrel is lifted by the drillstring the detent pin 22 again registers with the horizontal section ofthe Jslot and a fractional rotation of the drill string will lock thedetent in the horizontal portion 70 so as to secure the parts againstinadvertent expansion as the tool is retrieved.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 is generally similar to thatwhich is illustrated in Figures 1-4. Like parts have therefore beennumbered identically, but have been primed. This embodiment is somewhatsimplilied in that the sleeve 42 has been eliminated. The inner mandrel'section V16 is formed' witlian `upper piston-,por tion100which'has ashoulder '101 that'bears directly on cone50'.; The cone'50f is held'rmly between shoulder 101a'ndicollar 18. Thepiston' portion 100 carriesa retaining ring 102 for packing 103. The retaining ring 102,"togetherwith'end face 1,06 of'the -piston'portion 100 form the bottomof`pressure'chamber 30.

l The upper portion of 'the -outer vmandrel sectionjhas also beenmoditiedinthat insert 108'is separate from and threadedl intosection'S'. A seal ring 109 preventsiluid flow between these two parts.Packing 110 is carried between insert 108'and gland nut 26. Packing 110is positioned so that it never closes ol flow through port13'.

The "operation of this embodiment is the saine insofar as thesettingaction is concerned. When the packer is set, uidpressurewithin chamber30 acts downward on ring 102, end face 106," cone 5 0', and results inoutward movement of slips 52 to help counter the upward Vforce exertedori seal cup 64' and skirt 66.

It will be noted that the release of the packeris substantially the sameas 4with the embodiment of Figures 1-4. There is a difference, in thatpressure can not bleed out from` the pressure chamber 30 through theslip windows 53' and the spring windows 53A to help release the slips52. The desired'bleeding action is made to take place through port 13and is controlled by a suitable by-pass valve above the packer. Therelease of pressure lallowsfthe slips 52 to return inwardly, andthepacker rings 60 Ato contract to nonactuated diameter so that thepacker can be removed from the hole.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention providesanimproved packerwhich is retained in position by means of a uniquepressure balancing arrangement. It will of course be understood that theinvention is not limited` to the specific structure herein presented andthat numerous changes, modications, and equivalents may be utilized'without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in thefollowing claims.

What we claim is:

, l. In a device of the character described an inner mandrel,Y an outermandrel coaxially mounted'thereon, slips carried by said outer mandrel,a slip actuating cone ,on said inner mandrel for extending said slipsoutwardly of said outer mandrel, a pressure chamber formed between saidinner and outer mandrels, means for admitting pressure uid into saidchamber, a valve operable upon relative movement between said inner andouter mandrels for controlling the admission of pressure to saidcharnber, and means responsive to pressure in said chamber formaintaining said cone in slip extending position.

2. In a device of the character described an inner mandrel, an outermandrel coaxially mounted thereon, slips carried by said outer mandrel,a slip actuating cone on said inner mandrel for extending said slipsoutwardly of said outer mandrel, a pressure chamber formed between saidinner and outer mandrels, means for admitting pressure fluid into saidchamber, a valve operable upon relative movement between said inner andouter mandrels for controlling the admission of pressure to saidchamber, means responsive to pressure in said chamber for maintainingsaid cone in slip extending position, a packer ring carried on saidouter mandrel, and pressure means to expand said packer ring.

3. In a well packer an inner mandrel, an outer mandrel, slips carried bysaid outer mandrel, mechanical slip setting means associated with saidinner mandrel, including Va sleeve axially moveable relative to saidouter mandrel along with said inner mandrel, said sleeve having apressure head thereon, said head defining with said mandrels a pressurechamber therebetween, said pressure head constituting lluid pressureresponsive means for retaining said slips in set position, expansiblepacker means on said outer mandrel, and additional pressure means forexpanding said packer means independently of the setting of said slips.

4. Anapparatus as set forthinclaim'Sin whi'ch'thle inner mandrel is'Yhollow and fluid pressure is'dir'ect'ed therefrom to the pressurechamber for retaining the slips in set position, and-includingvvalvemeans responsive to relative mandrel movement for controlling thepassage ol' pressure iluid from said inner mandrel to said pressurechamber.

5. The apparatus asset forth in claim 3 including valve means responsiveto relative mandrelmovement for ad-` mitting uid pressure to saidpressure chamber forl re` taining the slips in set position equal to thepressure ap-V plied to the pressure means `Vfor expanding the packermeans.

6. A well'packer comprisingl an inner mandrel, an outer mandrel,` a slipactuating'cone slideably mounted on said inner mandrel, slipsjcarried bysaid outer mandrell and engageable by said cone tobe moved radiallyy tosetting position, a sleeve 'shiftably mounted on said inner mandrelandfengaged 4with' the cone, co-enga'geab'le portions on `theinner'mandrel and on the sleeve for imposing mechanical pressureIfrom'said innermandrel on saidsleeveto set said slips upon relativemovement in one direction of said inner-and outer mandrels, a pressurehead on said sleeve, saidinner and outer mandrels dei ning a pressurechamber at one side of 'said pressure head, said` innermandrel havingmeans for admitting fluid under pressure into said pressure chamber,said sleeve having a port for venting said pressure chamber uponrelativemovement `in the other direction of said inner and outer mandrels,packer rings carried on said outer-mandrel, and pressure means to expandsaid packer rings.

7. A well tool ofthe class described comprising an inner-mandrel and anouter mandrel, said mandrels being co-axially disposed with relation toIone another and' shiftable relatively axially, a slip actuating coneslide-V ably mounted on said inner mandrel, slips carried 'by saidVouter mandrel and 'engageable by said cone to be moved radially-to asetl position, a sleeveshiftably mounted on said inner mandrel andengaged with the cone, co-engageableportions-on the inner mandrelfand:on thesleevefor imposing mechanical pressure from said inner mandrel onsaid sleeve to set said slips upon relative movement in one direction ofsaid inner and outer mandrels, a pressure head on said sleeve, saidinner and outer mandrels defining a pressure chamber at one side of saidpressure head, said inner mandrel having means for admitting fluid underpressure into said pressure chamber, and said sleeve having a port forventing saidpressure chamber upon relative movement in the otherdirection of said inner and outer mandrels.

8. ln a well tool of the class described, comprising an inner mandrel,an outer mandrel co-axially disposed about said inner mandrel, saidmandrels being relatively axially moveable, laterally moveable slipscarried by one of said mandrels, a cone member carried by the othermandrel for wedging the slips laterally and means for moving the conemember to a slip setting position, that improvement wherein the conemoving means comprises a sleeve moveably disposed between said mandrels,said sleeve having a iluid pressure responsive head, a shoulderprojecting radially from one of said mandrels, said sleeve having a seatengageable with said shoulder, said head delining with said mandrels apressure chamber at one side of the head when said shoulder and seat areengaged, said sleeve having a port extending through said sleeve seatfor relieving the pressure chamber, means for sealing oil? said portwhen said shoulder and seat are engaged, and one of said mandrels havinga port leading into said pressure chamber for the admission of pressurefluid thereto.

9. In a Well tool of the class described, comprising an inner mandrel,an outer mandrel co-'axially disposed about said inner mandrel, saidmandrels being relatively axially moveable, laterally moveable slipscarried by one of said mandrels, a cone member carried by the othermandrel for wedging the slips laterally and meansfor moving the conemember to a slip setting position, that improvement wherein the conemoving means comprises a sleeve moveably disposed between said mandrels,said sleeve having a fluid pressure responsive head, a shoulderprojecting radially from one of said mandrels, said sleeve having a seatengageable with said shoulder, said head delining with said mandrels apressure chamber at one side of the head when said shoulder and seat areengaged, said sleeve having a port extending through said sleeve seatfor relieving the pressure chamber, means for sealing oi said port whensaid shoulder and seat are engaged, one of said mandrels having a portleading into said pressure Ichamber for the admission of pressure uidthereto, and co-eugageable means on said inner and outer mandrels forreleasably holding said mandrels in relative positions with saidshoulder disengaged from said seat.

l0. In a well tool of the class described, comprising an inner mandrel,an outer mandrel Clo-axially disposed about said inner mandrel, saidmandrels being relatively axially moveable, laterally moveable slipscarried by said outer mandrel, a cone member carried by the innermandrel for wedging the slips laterally, and means for moving the conemember to a slip setting position, that improvement wherein the conemoving means comprises a sleeve moveably mounted on said inner mandrelbetween said mandrels, said sleeve having a uid pressure responsivehead, a shoulder projecting radially from said inner mandrel, saidsleeve having a seat engageable with said shoulder, said head definingwith said inner and outer mandrels a pressure chamber at one side of thehead when said shoulder and seat are engaged, said sleeve having a porttherethrough for relieving the pressure chamber, means for sealing olfsaid port when said shoulder and seat are engaged, and said innermandrel having a port leading into said pressure chamber for theadmission of pressure fluid thereto.

l1. A well tool for insertion in an outer casing, said tool including aninner mandrel, an outer mandrel coaxially mounted thereon, radiallymovable slips carried by said outer mandrel for setting the tool in suchouter casing, a slip actuating cone on said inner mandrel for extendingsaid slips outwardly of -said outer mandrel, a pressure chamber formedbetween said inner and outer mandrels, said inner mandrel being providedwith a port leading to said pressure chamber for the admission ofpressure uid thereto, a valve operable upon relative movement betweensaid inner and outer mandrels for controlling the admission of saidpressure to said chamber, means on the inner mandrel responsive to lluidpressure in said chamber for urging said cone in opposition to the slipsto set the latter, a packer ring carried by said outer mandrel, andpressure means to expand said packer ring.

12. A well tool as delined in claim ll, wherein the uid pressureresponsive means on said inner chamber comprises a pressure head mountedon said inner mandrel, said inner mandrel also having a shoulder engagedwith said cone for transmitting movement of said pressure head to saidcone.

13. A well tool as defined 4in claim 1l, wherein the fluid pressureresponsive means on said inner mandrel comprises a pressure headshiftably mounted on said inner mandrel, said inner mandrel and saidpressure head having co-engageable parts for effecting mechanical slipsetting movement of said pressure head responsive to relative movementin one direction between said inner and outer mandrel, means extendingfrom said pressure head towards said cone and engageable with said coneupon fluid pressure responsive movement of said pressure head in a slipsetting direction, and valve means closable upon engagement of saidco-engageable parts and openable responsive to disengagement of saidco-engageable parts for relieving iluid pressure from said pressurechamber.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,275,935 Baker Mar. l0, 1942 2,421,399 Wilson et al. .lune 3, 19472,540,967 Taylor et al. Feb. 6, 1951 2,609,879 Webber Sept. 9, 1952

